Illinois State Police
News Release

Illinois State Police Welcomes Cadet Class 122

Press Release Date:
November 22, 2013
|| Archived October 3, 2014

53 Troopers Join the Ranks of the Illinois State Police

Springfield – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Hiram Grau today commissioned 53 troopers during the CC-122 (Cadet Class) graduation ceremony at the ISP Academy. The new troopers will report to ISP Patrol Districts throughout the state on Monday, November 25, 2013.

Today’s graduation marks the third cadet class this year. ISP Director Hiram Grau and the ISP command staff welcomed the new troopers as they accepted the oath of office before family and friends. Officials also welcomed a special guest of honor, U.S. District Judge James Zagel, a former ISP Director.

ISP Director Hiram Grau, and other command staff personnel greeted family members during the “Bell Ringing Ceremony,” commemorating the right of passage from the ISP Academy.

“Today we welcome these new members into the ranks of the ISP. They stand here proud of their accomplishment, ready and willing to answer a higher calling of service to the community,” said ISP Director Hiram Grau. “Joining with them are the families who provide much in the way of support and will also become part of the ISP family. We are also honored to welcome Judge James Zagel back to the Academy for this special occasion,” he added.

This is the first ISP Cadet Class under the new legislation that allows veterans who have been awarded an Afghan or Iraqi campaign medal by the military or naval services of the United States to apply without having earned a college degree. They have been honorably discharged and have met the collegiate educational requirement for employment. Sixteen of the new troopers are veterans, and of these, eight were hired under the new legislation.

Cadet Class 122 also honored their recently fallen comrade by raising funds to make a class donation to the Trooper Kyle Deatherage Memorial Fund dedicated to support his children’s college education. Trooper Kyle Deatherage was killed in the line of duty on November 26, 2012. Director Grau also asked Cadet Class 122 to remember the courage and honor of Trooper James Sauter, a District 15 Trooper who was also killed in the line of duty on March 28, 2013.

The ISP Academy is one of the most respected and recognized training facilities in the country. Dozens of law enforcement agencies also use ISP Academy curriculum to meet standards set forth by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

“These cadets have undergone demanding training at the ISP Academy which will serve to guide them as they embark on their new careers,” said ISP Academy Captain Pat Murphy.

The new officers have been assigned to the following areas of the state and will immediately begin their patrol duties, joining veteran troopers in the effort to safeguard Illinois roadways:

District 2 Elgin, 4 troopers

District Chicago, 7 troopers

District 5 Joliet, 4 troopers

District 6 Pontiac, 4 troopers

District 7 East Moline, 3 troopers

District 8 Metamora, 3 troopers

District 10 Pesotum, 4 trooper

District 11 Collinsville, 8 troopers

District 14 Macomb, 1 trooper

District 15 Downers Grove (Tollway), 8 troopers

District 16 Pecatonica, 1 trooper

District 17 LaSalle, 2 troopers

District 20 Pittsfield, 2 troopers

District 21 Kankakee, 2 troopers

In addition to the 25-week academy training, probationary troopers are required to participate in one-on-one mentoring with Field Training Officers (FTOs) under a 14-week field training program, expanding their training to 39 weeks. Probationary troopers who successfully complete the training with an FTO are advanced to solo-patrol status, where they will join the ranks of troopers on patrol to safeguard the citizens and State of Illinois.

Illinois State Police CC-123 is currently in its second week of training at the Academy and CC-124 is scheduled to begin in February 2014. Anyone interested in joining the ranks of the Illinois State Police is encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website at www.illinoistrooper.com for future application information.